Mónica Ramírez, an attorney and founder of Justice for Migrant Women, is dedicated to empowering migrant women, particularly farmworkers, by providing them with essential information to organize and advocate for their rights. Drawing inspiration from her great-grandmother, who provided information to her community, Ramírez established Justice for Migrant Women in 2014. The organization functions not as a legal aid clinic, but as a conduit for knowledge, enabling workers to understand and assert their rights.
Ramírez, who holds degrees from Ohio State and Harvard, has become an internationally recognized figure in feminist advocacy. She has garnered support from notable figures such as Eva Longoria and America Ferrera and was a guest of Laura Dern at the Oscars in 2018. Despite her national profile, she continues to reside near the agricultural fields where she grew up.
A pivotal experience in her work was with a farmworker named Bernice, who had been sexually victimized and evicted. Bernice’s decision to return home instead of pursuing legal action, despite Ramírez’s offers of support, underscored for Ramírez the importance of centering the dignity and full lives of the individuals she assists. This approach shapes her interactions, emphasizing neighborliness and mutual respect.
In 2017, as the Me Too movement gained momentum, Ramírez contributed to the "Dear Sisters" letter published in TIME, which highlighted the shared experiences of sexual harassment faced by women in both Hollywood and the agricultural sector. The letter stated, "Even though we work in very different environments, we share a common experience of being preyed upon by individuals who have the power to hire, fire, and blacklist."
During the Trump administration's increased focus on deportations, Ramírez worked within communities to educate farmworkers about their rights, addressing the difficult choice many faced between enduring abuse in silence or risking detention and family separation by coming forward. This work is conducted through community meetings and trainings.
Ramírez also spearheads initiatives like the "Humans Who Feed Us" dinner series. These events bring together immigrant workers in the food system—such as farmworkers, line cooks, and delivery drivers—with business leaders and community members. By setting large tables, Ramírez aims to bridge the perceived gap between different societal groups, fostering understanding and reducing hate and misunderstanding. She likens these gatherings to the way her great-grandmother welcomed newcomers, emphasizing a return to a time when communities relied on their neighbors.